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Politics
Original poster

Johnson changing the Ministerial Code.

33 replies

HappydaysArehere · 28/05/2022 10:35

So when the rules are broken Johnson just changes the rules. How expected is that?What does it mean for our democratic Parliament? ITV news mentioned the deletion of words like truth and integrity. So it won’t be possible to sack anyone for lying to Parliament so long as they apologise and maybe have some cut in salary. What I can’t understand and want to ask is this change possible without the consent of a Parliamentary vote? Can’t help remembering that Putin changed the rules to enable him to stay in power! What is happening to this country while we discuss Ukraine and the cost of living crisis?

OP posts:
Original poster
HappydaysArehere · 28/05/2022 10:56

He uses the phrase “my ministers” not her Majesty’s Government or ministers. What else will he change before the next General Election? The government in power has the ability to choose the time of the election to some extent so what can this devious rascal think up to save his skin. I only hope “his ministers” stand up for democracy and show us they are not all tarred with the same brush.

OP posts:
balalake · 28/05/2022 10:55

Mr Johnson's idea of minor probably differs from most people. He probably thinks fathering children and trying to deny the existence of some is minor.

Hawkins001 · 28/05/2022 10:51

From the guardian article

"No 10 said a new version of the ministerial code, published on Friday alongside a government statement saying it is “disproportionate to expect that any breach, however minor, should lead automatically to resignation or dismissal”, has the backing of the Committee on Standards in Public Life and Lord Geidt, the adviser on ministerial interests.

Ministers who knowingly mislead parliament are usually expected to resign – which is stated elsewhere in the code. However, Downing Street declined to say if Johnson would resign if found to have done so.

One reason given for changing the rules was to “avoid incentives for trivial or vexatious complaints, which may be made for partisan reasons"

My analysis I suspect their is more details that the public don't know of, that also help to explain this other than just the obvious,

EcoEcoIA · 28/05/2022 10:51

Reminds me of the pigs in Animal Farm rewriting "Four legs good, two legs bad" to "Four legs good, two legs better"

Bunnyfuller · 28/05/2022 10:45

It’s hideous, isn’t it. There doesn’t seem to be anyone able to stophim

LittleAvocet · 28/05/2022 10:45

There should be a petition that no one should be able to change the rules for personal gain.

artisanbread · 28/05/2022 10:40

Classic case of we don't want to follow the rules so we'll just change them. He will count on his usual strategy of people being angry for a while then just forgetting about it, along with the general assumption by the public these days that we should just expect politicians to be liars and cheats.